Switch and fuse box



Dec. 8, 1931. J. C.-LEWIS SWITCH AND FUSE BOX Filed May 2, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet 1 J6? Lewis Dec. 8, 1931. J C WI 1,835,228

SWITCH AND FUSE BOX Filed May 2, 1927 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I T i I as I J.C. LEWIS Dec. 8, 1931.

Filed May 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE aosErH d. LEWIS,IOF, MINERVA, OHIO, jnssmnon 'ro CHARLESW. KEPLINGER, 1m-

'CEIVEROF THE AMERICAN ELECTRIC SWITCH CORPORATION, or MINERVA, OHIO,

A eoRPoaA'non or DELAWARE swrrcn AND ruse BOX Application filed my 2,

The invention relates to entrance boxes suchias are ordinarily providedin residences a safety box so arranged that access to the fuseplugscanbe had only when the switch is in the open position, the fuseplugsbeing vcovered by a door which is held in locked position when theswitch is closed, means being vprovldedto prevent closing of the doortion unless the cover to the fuse plugs locked, and to prevent movingthe switch to stile-on position when it is desired to cut oil theelectric service.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which 3 Figure 1 isian elevation of the-improved box withthe door opened, showing the switch in closed position;

* Fig. 2, a perspective view of'the box, showing the doorzin closedposition, the switch being shown in the on position and the cover to'thefuse plugs in locked position, parts ofsaid cover being broken away forthe purpose of illustration shown in Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4, a. similar v1ew,'show1ng the switch in the open positionand'thefuse plug cover locked, this being the position the parts assumewhen theelectric service is out 01f to the house, and 1 v -Fig.'5, asectional View through the box, showing the switch in the open positionand the fuse plug cover raised to permit access to the fuse plugs.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The box 1 is preferably made of sheet metal of any usual design andprovided with the customary door 2 hinged to one side of the box as at 3and provided at its other side with the pivoted catch 4 having aperforate ear 5 arranged to be located through the slot 6 formed in theperforated lug 7 upon the side wall of the box which is adapted to pro-1927. "Serial 1%. 188-,168.

trade through the slot 8 in the door. -The usual seal may be locatedthrough the apertures 9 in thecatch 4 and lug '7 to seal the box in thecustomary manner.

An insulation block '10 may be fixed upon the bottom of the interior ofthe box 1, the

switch being mounted thereon. This switch may comprise the blades 11pivoted as at 12 and adapted to contact with the jaws 13 also mounted.upon .the block and provided with the bindingposts 14. of the box whenthe switch is in closed .posia legends on and oif at opposite ends ofthe slot. v

The fuse plugs 21 are carried in sockets 22 formed in the porcelainblock 23 which may be supported above the base block 10 as by v the legs24.

This fuse block is so positioned that the fuse plugs will be displayedthrough the opening 25 in the door 2 when the door is closed. Bindingposts 26 are provided upon the base block for the connection of wires.

A cover 27 is hinged as at 28 upon the door 2 and arranged to normallycover the fuse plugs 21 in orderto prevent access thereto. For thepurpose of limiting the opening movement of-the cover 27, a stop arm 29is fixed thereto and extended through an enlarged portion 30 in the slot31 provided in the door, having its free end inturned as at 32 to engagethe under side of the door 2 p to limit theopening mox ement of thecover as shown in Fig. 5.

The cover 27 is preferably provided with the rim flange 33 having a lip34 at its free or swinging edge to permit the finger to be placedthereunder for opening the cover.

A locking plate 35 is slidably mounted upon the inside of the door nearthe swinging edge thereof. This plate may be pro vided with theelongatedslots 36 engaged by the bolts 37 upon the door and is provided with theangular lip 38 extending through the slot 31 and arranged to be slidablyengaged over the flange 33 of the'cover 27 when the cover is in closedposition. The locking plate is provided with a depending flange 39having the inclined ed es 4O and l at opposite ends, and provided withthe notch 42 near the edge 40, and'adaptangular lip 38 engaging over therim flange 33- of the cover 27 ,:holding said cover locked in closedposition and preventing access to the enclosed fuse plugs 21. 1

- 3 In order to open the cover 27 to reach the fuse plugs, it isnecessary to throw'the Handle 18'into the off position, opening theswitch and sliding the locking plate 35 into the positionshownin Fig. 5,moving the lip 38 out' of'engagement with the rim flange 33 of the coverwhen the cover maybe raised as shown in said figure. Thus access can behad to the fuse plugs only when the switch is open, preventing a personfrom accidentally receiving an electric shock by touching thefuse plugswhen the current is on.

WVhen the po'wer'company desires to shut foif the service, it is onlynecessary to open the door, 2, with the parts in the position shown inFigs. 2 and 3, then throw the switch to the off position and close thedoor. The v crank bar 17 will thus contact with the edge 4:0 of theflange upon the sliding locking plate,

preventing movement of the handle 18 toward the on position holding theswitch in open position and the cover 27 locked in closed position. l Itwill, ofcourse, be'under'stood that the catch .4 will be moved into thelocked position as shown in Fig. 2 and the usu'al'seal of the companyplaced through the apertures 9 in the catch 4 and ear 7. r 7 It willbeseen that in theeventthe door 2 is opened with the locking plate inthe posi' tion shown in'Fig'."5, should the switch be moved to the-onposition, the door cannot be closedas the lower or inner edge of therange 39 will contact with the crank bar 17 andprevent closure of thedoor, making it necessary to first throw the switch to the olf'positionbefore the door may be closed.

Shouldthe cover 27 be opened as shown in "Fig. '5, it will be seen thattheswitch cannot be thrown" to the on position, as the angular lip 38will contact with the stop arm 29, preventing movement of the switchhan-' dle '18, and locking the switch in open position'.

From the above it will. be obvious that it is impossible to have theswitch in closed position and the cover 27 unlocked at the same time,thus permitting access to the fuse plugs only when the current is turnedoff and making the switch box absolutely safe and fool proof. 3

I claim: V

1. A switch and fuse box provided with a door,-aswitch within the box, afuse plug within the box,a c'ove'r hingedly mounted on thedoor andarranged to normally prevent access to the fuse plug, means for lockingsaid cover, and means'preventing the closing of the door when the switchis closed and the cover unlocked. 1 I V 2. A switch and fuse box, aswitch within the box, a fuse plug within the box, a coverhavmg aperipheral rim flange and arranged to normally prevent access to thefuse plug, and a sliding locking plate within the box operativelyassociated with the swit'chand having a lip extending outside of the boxand arranged to slidably engage the rim flange of the cover.

3. Aswitch and fuse plug, an arm upon said'cover, and a lock for thecover operativelyassociated with the switch, said arnr arranged toprevent movement of the look when the cover 15 open.

5. A switch and fuse box, a switch within the box operating means forthe switch, a fuse plug within the box, a cover arranged to normallyprevent access to the fuse plug,'an arm upon the cover, a locking plateoperatively associated with the switch and a lip upon the locking platearranged to engage the cover andto contact with the arm topreventmovement of the locking plate and closing of the switch when the coveris open.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOSEPH G. Lewis;

I fuse box,a switch within the box, a fuse plug within the box,-aa-coverhaving a per pheralrim flange and arranged fuse-box, a switch within thebox, a'fuse plug within the box, a cover arranged to normally-preventaccess to the

